Auction Item Details
Lot 560
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Lot Number: 560
Description: Charles Mason's 1875 Philadelphia Base Ball Club player's contract for the 1876 season. Rare 19th century player's contract was executed between Mason and the Philadelphia Athletics club in December, 1875 for the 1876 season. The contract entitles Mason to a salary of $700 commencing June 1st, 1876 subject to the handwritten condition, "That the said Mason, during the months of April and May of the year 1876 does hereby agree that his services shall be an experiment and should his play prove satisfactory to the managers and directors of said Phila. BBC then the terms of this contract to remain in full force, otherwise to be null and void." Baseball records indicate that Mason did not make an appearance for the Athletics as a player in 1876; however, he did participate in a game on May 26th of that year as the home plate umpire. The dates of this contract coincide with one of the most pivotal periods in baseball history. By 1875, the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, with which the Athletics were affiliated, was dangerously weak. The N.A. suffered from a lack of strong authority over clubs, unsupervised scheduling, unstable membership, dominance by one team, and an extremely low entry fee ($10) that gave clubs no incentive to abide by league rules when it was not convenient. William Hulbert, a Chicago businessman and an officer of the Chicago White Stockings, approached several N.A. clubs with plans for a league with stronger central authority and exclusive territories in larger cities only. After recruiting St. Louis privately, four western clubs met in Louisville, Kentucky, in January 1876. With Hulbert speaking for the four in New York City on February 2, 1876, the National League was established with eight charter members, including the Philadelphia Athletics. On April 22, 1876, the Athletics played in the first game in the history of Major League Baseball, losing to the Boston Red Caps 6-5. After having spent fifteen years as a strong and stable club, the Athletics fared poorly in the newly formed National League, finishing seventh position, 38 wins behind Chicago. Near the end of the season, the financially-troubled team refused to make a western road trip, as did the Mutuals of New York. Both clubs were expelled from the National League, which simply contracted from eight to six for the 1877 season. The contract is signed by Mason at bottom as well as team President George Concamon and witnesses by the names of Colgan "for Philad. BBC" and Wm. W. Young. All writing and signatures remain bold, averaging 8 out of 10. An embossed Philadelphia Base Ball Club seal is visible near the Concamon and Mason signatures. The contract shows typical fold lines, moderate wear at edges and mild scattered staining. It has been conservation mounted to a rice paper backing. This is the earliest player contract from a major professional league that we are aware of. Includes LOA from the family of Charles Mason and LOA from JSA: VG-EXEstimated Price Range: ($5,000-$7,000)
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